US11892376B2 - System for pressure monitoring and processing leakage determination of a bladder - Google Patents
System for pressure monitoring and processing leakage determination of a bladder Download PDFInfo
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- US11892376B2 US11892376B2 US16/389,165 US201916389165A US11892376B2 US 11892376 B2 US11892376 B2 US 11892376B2 US 201916389165 A US201916389165 A US 201916389165A US 11892376 B2 US11892376 B2 US 11892376B2
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Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01M—TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G01M3/00—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures
- G01M3/02—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum
- G01M3/26—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors
- G01M3/32—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors for containers, e.g. radiators
- G01M3/3236—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors for containers, e.g. radiators by monitoring the interior space of the containers
- G01M3/3272—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors for containers, e.g. radiators by monitoring the interior space of the containers for verifying the internal pressure of closed containers
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C27/00—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas
- A47C27/08—Fluid mattresses or cushions
- A47C27/081—Fluid mattresses or cushions of pneumatic type
- A47C27/082—Fluid mattresses or cushions of pneumatic type with non-manual inflation, e.g. with electric pumps
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C27/00—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas
- A47C27/08—Fluid mattresses or cushions
- A47C27/081—Fluid mattresses or cushions of pneumatic type
- A47C27/083—Fluid mattresses or cushions of pneumatic type with pressure control, e.g. with pressure sensors
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01M—TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G01M3/00—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures
- G01M3/02—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum
- G01M3/26—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors
- G01M3/32—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors for containers, e.g. radiators
- G01M3/3218—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors for containers, e.g. radiators for flexible or elastic containers
Definitions
- the present invention is directed to a diagnostic system for detecting leaks in a pneumatic system, such as a patient support surface, including a mattress.
- a method of diagnosing a pneumatic system comprises pressurizing the system to an inflation pressure, ceasing the pressurizing for a settling-in time period, measuring a decayed pressure after the settling-in time period, determining a determined rate of decay of the pressure in the system over a decay time period; and comparing the determined rate of decay to a first stored decay rate.
- the pressurizing comprises inflating an inflatable component of the system.
- the method further includes measuring a inflation time period for inflating the inflatable component to the inflation pressure.
- the method further comprises comparing the inflation time period to a first stored time period. For example, the method determines whether the inflation time period is greater, equal or less than the first stored time period.
- the method may comprise displaying (1) whether the determined rate of decay is greater, equal or less than the first stored decay rate and/or (2) whether the inflation time period is greater, equal, or less than the first stored time period.
- the method further comprises displaying a value representative of the determined rate of decay or the inflation time period.
- the method further comprises deflating the inflatable component to a deflation pressure after detecting the decayed pressure.
- a deflation time period for deflating the inflatable component to the deflation pressure is measured.
- the method may further comprise determining whether the deflation time period is greater, equal or less than a second stored time period.
- the method further comprises displaying whether the deflation time period is greater, equal, or less than the second stored time period.
- the inflating the inflatable component comprises inflating a bladder of the pneumatic system.
- the inflating the bladder may comprise inflating a zone of bladders of the pneumatic system.
- the inflating the bladder may comprise inflating each zone of a plurality of zones of bladders of the pneumatic system.
- the determining of the determined rate of decay may comprise measuring a settled-in pressure, and calculating the change in pressure between the settled-in pressure and the decayed pressure over the decay time period.
- the method may further comprise determining whether the determined rate of decay is less than a second stored decay rate.
- the method further comprises displaying whether the determined rate of decay is greater, equal to or less than the first stored decay rate or the second stored decay rate.
- a pneumatic diagnostic system comprises a control system and software stored in one or more memory devices.
- the software is configured to control a fluid delivery device to pressurize a pneumatic system to an inflation pressure.
- the software is further configured to cease the pressurization for a settling time period and then detect the settled-in pressure in the pneumatic system based on one or more signals from the sensor at the end of a settling-in time period.
- the software determines the rate of decay of the pressure in the pneumatic system over a decay time period and compares the determined rate of decay to a first stored decay rate.
- the software is further configured to inflate an inflatable component of the pneumatic system to the inflation pressure.
- the software is further configured to measure the inflation time period to inflate the inflatable component to the inflation pressure.
- the software is further configured to compare the inflation time period to a first stored time period. For example, the software is configured to determining whether the inflation time period is greater, equal or less than the first stored time period.
- the pneumatic diagnostic system further comprises a display.
- the software is configured to show at said display indicating (1) whether the determined rate of decay is greater, equal or less than the first stored decay rate and/or (2) whether the inflation time period is greater, equal, or less than the first stored time period.
- the software is configured to generate a display of the determined rate of decay or the inflation time period at said display.
- the software is configured to measure a decayed pressure and to deflate the inflatable component to a deflation pressure after measuring the decayed pressure.
- the software is further configured to measure the deflation time period for deflating the inflatable component to the deflation pressure.
- the software is further configured to determine whether the deflation time period is greater, equal or less than a second stored time period.
- the software is further configured to generate a display indicating whether the deflation time period is greater, equal, or less than the second stored time period.
- the software is configured to inflate a bladder of the pneumatic system.
- the software is configured to inflate a zone of bladders of the pneumatic system or each zone of a plurality of zones of bladders of the pneumatic system.
- the software is configured to measure the decayed pressure in the system at the end of the decay time period and, further, calculate the determined rate of decay.
- the software may be configured to determine whether the determined rate of decay is greater, equal to or less than a second stored decay rate.
- the software may be configured to generate a display indicating whether the determined rate of decay is greater, equal to or less than the first or second stored decay rates.
- the diagnostic system may be combined with a mattress, which has one or more bladders, and the control system diagnoses the one or more bladders in the mattress. Further yet, the diagnostic system may be combined with a patient support that has a mattress.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic of a diagnostic system
- FIG. 1 A is a schematic of another embodiment of the diagnostic system
- FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating the diagnostic process
- FIG. 3 is a graphical representation of the diagnostic process
- FIG. 3 A is one embodiment of a display of the diagnostic system.
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a patient support with a mattress.
- the numeral 10 generally designates a diagnostic system.
- diagnostic system 10 is configured to detect the pressure change in a pneumatic system, and moreover detect the pressure change over a period of time and/or determine how long the pneumatic system takes to reach a defined pressure, such as an inflation pressure or a deflation pressure.
- diagnostic system may be used to detect leaks in a pneumatic system.
- the diagnostic system may be assembled as a modular system, including a modular system that can be incorporated into the pneumatic system or into an apparatus associated with the pneumatic system.
- the modular system may be used in a manufacturing facility or used in the field by service technicians.
- the system may be comprised of separate components that work together to be used as testing equipment, again for example, in a manufacturing facility or used in the field by service technicians.
- diagnostic system 10 comprises a control system 12 , which comprises a controller, memory in communication with the controller, and one or more peripheral interfaces in communication with the controller for communicating with the peripheral devices noted below, and software 14 stored in the memory of the control system.
- control system 12 may comprise at least one transceiver to communicate either with the pneumatic system or with a remote device noted below.
- the components of control system 12 communicate with each other using conventional electronic communication techniques.
- the controller communicates with memory, and the interface(s) using I-squared-C communications. Other types of serial or parallel communication can alternatively be used.
- different methods may be used for different components.
- the controller may communicate with the interface via a Controller Area Network (CAN) or Local Interconnect Network (LIN), while it communicates with memory using I squared C. It should be understood that other variations are possible.
- CAN Controller Area Network
- LIN Local Interconnect Network
- the controller comprises one or more microcontrollers, microprocessors, and/or other programmable electronics that are programmed to carry out the functions described herein. It will be understood that the controller may also comprise other electronic components, not specifically mentioned herein, that are programmed to carry out the functions described herein, or that support the microcontrollers, microprocessors, and/or other electronics.
- the other electronic components comprise, but are not limited to, one or more field programmable gate arrays, systems on a chip, volatile or nonvolatile memory, discrete circuitry, integrated circuits, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and/or other hardware, software, or firmware, as would be known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
- Such components can be physically configured in any suitable manner, such as by mounting them to one or more circuit boards, or arranging them in other manners, whether combined into a single unit or distributed across multiple units. Such components may be physically distributed in different positions on the diagnostic system, or they may reside in a common location on for example, on an apparatus incorporating the pneumatic system, such as the mattress or patient support apparatus noted below. When physically separated, the components may communicate using any suitable serial or parallel communication protocol, such as, but not limited to, CAN, LIN, Firewire, I-squared-C, RS-232, RS-485, etc.
- Control system 12 is configured by software 14 to control the flow of fluid to and from components of a pneumatic system 16 , and further to perform tests on the components of the pneumatic system to determine one or more parameters of the pneumatic system components, which may comprise detecting leaks or determining whether a component is functioning properly.
- the tests may be a one-time test or tests or may be set up to periodically test the pneumatic system components, as more fully described below. Further, depending on the parameters used in the comparisons noted below, the test(s) may be used to detect micro-leaks (which may reduce the life span of a pneumatic component) or large or gross leaks associate with a current or imminent failure.
- control system 12 is in communication with and controls (via software 14 ) a fluid flow control device, such as a pump 18 , which selectively delivers fluid to and from the components of pneumatic system 16 based on signals from control system 12 .
- Pump 18 may be a component of the diagnostic system or may be a component of the pneumatic system 16 (such as shown in FIG. 1 A ).
- diagnostic system 10 may be configured to use the existing flow control devices (e.g. pump, valves etc.) of the pneumatic system to run the pneumatic testing on the other components of the pneumatic system or use its own flow control device or devices.
- control system 12 under the control of software 14 , initiates a diagnostic test 20 by initially pressurizing or inflating the component or components of pneumatic system 14 to a specified inflation pressure P1 ( 22 ), for example, a maximum inflation pressure.
- a specified inflation pressure P1 for example, a maximum inflation pressure.
- the components being pressurized are inflatable components, such as bladders of a mattress (which will be more fully described below). Hence the following description will be described in reference to inflating the components of the pneumatic system.
- control system 12 comprises a clock to measure the inflation time period T1 it takes to inflate the component to the inflation pressure P1 ( 24 ). The time it takes to inflate (or deflate noted below) may provide an indication of conduits being crossed or pinched. Control system 12 then compares the measured inflation time period T1 to an acceptable, first stored time period T2 ( 25 ). Time period T2 may be stored in the memory of control system 12 or stored in an external memory (not shown)), with which control system 12 may be in communication, for example, through one of its peripheral interfaces.
- control system 12 measures a settled-in pressure P2 in the component(s) of pneumatic system 16 after a settling-in time period T3 ( 26 ).
- Settling-in time period T3 provides a settling time so as to reduce, if not minimize, the effect of material elasticity that may be present in the component(s) of the pneumatic system, as will be more fully described below.
- the mattress may comprise air bladders that are formed from a material that can stretch. Depending on the material elasticity of the bladder material, the degree of stretch can vary. It is expected for the mattresses with bladders referenced below, a suitable settling-in time period T3 may fall in a range of 30 seconds to several minutes.
- Control system 12 determines, such as by measuring, a decayed pressure P3 after a decay time period T4.
- Control system 12 calculates a rate of decay by calculating the change in pressure P2 ⁇ P3 (the difference between the settled-in pressure and the decayed pressure) over the decay time period T4 ( 28 ) as measured just after the end of T3 or some time thereafter.
- a suitable decay time period T4 may also fall in a range of 30 seconds to several minutes.
- the system is configured to confirm that the component will maintain a minimum pressure after stabilizing the system (after T3).
- control system 12 After the decay time period T4, control system 12 then deflates the component(s) of pneumatic system 16 to a specified deflation pressure P4 ( 28 ). Optionally, control system 12 then measures the time it takes to deflate the component(s) of pneumatic system 16 to deflation pressure P4 ( 30 ), which is referred to as a deflation time period T5. Further, control system 12 may then compare the deflation time period T5 to a second stored time T6 ( 31 ).
- the initial pressure may be zero or may start at an arbitrary or default pressure P0.
- Control system 12 then pressurizes or inflates the component or components of pneumatic system 14 to a specified inflation pressure P1. After the settling-in time period T3, control system determines the settled-in pressure P2.
- Control system 12 measures a decayed pressure P3 after a decay time period T4 and determines a rate of decay in the pressure by calculating the change in pressure P2 ⁇ P3 over the decay time period T4 ( 28 ) as measured just right after the end of settling-in time period T3 or some time thereafter.
- a suitable decay time period T4 may also fall in a range of 30 seconds to several minutes.
- the control system 12 is configured to confirm that the component will maintain a minimum pressure after stabilizing the system (after T3).
- control system 12 After decay time period T4, control system 12 then deflates the component(s) of pneumatic system 16 to a specified deflation pressure P4 ( 28 ). Optionally, control system 12 then measures time it takes to deflate the component(s) of pneumatic system 16 from the decayed pressure to the specified deflation pressure P4 ( 30 ), which is referred to as a deflation time period T5. Further, control system 12 may then compare the deflation time period T5 to a second stored time period T6 ( 31 ).
- control system 12 compares the determined or measured parameter to a stored parameter, e.g., a defined pressure stored in memory, a defined time period or a defined decay rate stored in memory, to determine, for example, whether the parameters are acceptable or exceed or are below the acceptable values. For example, referring again to FIGS. 1 and 3 A , control system 12 may make a pass/fail determination based on the comparisons for each tested component. These determinations may be forwarded to a remote device, as noted above, such as a quality control system of a manufacturing facility or to a server, which may then forward the information, for example, on to a service company so that a technician may be sent on site to the pneumatic system to repair or replace the necessary component(s). Alternately, the results of the testing may be displayed at the pneumatic system or the apparatus incorporating the pneumatic system, as will be more fully described below.
- a stored parameter e.g., a defined pressure stored in memory, a defined time period or a defined decay rate stored in memory
- control system 12 comprises a display 40 .
- Display 40 may be a touchscreen display capable of displaying text and/or graphics and sensing the location that a users finger touches the display. Although it will be understood that display 40 may be a normal LCD display without touchscreen capabilities that use hard or soft buttons to interact therewith, or still other types of displays.
- the information noted above may be transmitted to and displayed on display 40 in addition to the remote device(s) noted above or in place of the remote device.
- the diagnostic system may be self-contained and simply display the results of the diagnostic test at the pneumatic system or at the apparatus incorporating the pneumatic system. Referring again to FIG.
- display 40 may be configured to display a variety of different information or data, including one or more of (a) pass/fail status of the inflation time to inflate the pneumatic system to the specified inflation pressure P1 (the inflation time period T1); (b) the pass/fail status of the rate of decay; (c) the pass/fail of the deflation time period T5; and (d) the pressure of the pneumatic system, and other parameters discussed below.
- control system 12 may also be configured via software 14 to check the electrical components or system of the pneumatic system.
- control system 12 may be configured to measure the current to the electrical components, such as valves, compressors, pumps, and/or internal fans of the pneumatic system. Control system 12 may then compare the measured current levels to specified current values for the respective component to determine whether any of the components are faulty, e.g., drawing too much or too little current.
- pneumatic system 16 comprises a mattress with one or more bladders 16 a , 16 b , 16 c , and 16 d . It should be understood that the number of bladders, the functions, and the configuration of the bladders may vary. Further, the bladders may be arranged in zones so that each zone may be tested, or the individual bladders in each zone may be tested.
- bladders ( 16 a - 16 d ) may form part of a patient support layer that provides support to a patient or may form part of a therapeutic system, such as turning bladder, percussion bladders, or vibration bladders or the like.
- a therapeutic system such as turning bladder, percussion bladders, or vibration bladders or the like.
- Examples of mattresses with pneumatic systems that employ various bladders to support a patient and bladders to provide therapeutic functions reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 8,910,334 (STR03A-P239A), U.S. Pat. No. 8,911,387 (STR03A-P257A), and pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/548,591 (STR03A-P376A) and Ser. No. 13/836,813 (STR03A P404A), which are commonly owned by Stryker Corporation of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and are incorporated by referenced in their entireties herein.
- Diagnostic system 10 may be configured to run a diagnostic test on each bladder separately, simultaneously, or in succession.
- an acceptable pressure decay rate may be in range of 0.10-0.15 psi/3 minutes, or in a range of 0.11-0.14 psi/3 minutes, or about 0.13 psi/3 minutes.
- An acceptable pressure decay rate for a turning bladder of the type described in the referenced patents and applications, which may be stored in memory, may be in range of 0.16-0.24 psi/3 minutes, or in a range of 0.18-0.22 psi/3 minutes, or about 0.2 psi/3 minutes.
- diagnostic system 10 may comprise multiple valves 44 (one or more for each bladder), which are in fluid communication with the respective bladder through one or more conduits.
- valves 44 may be provided in the form of a valve manifold 48 .
- a suitable valve manifold 48 may comprise solenoid valves, which may be in communication with the interface of the control system 12 either wirelessly or by hard wiring.
- control system 12 can control the flow of fluid to each bladder (or zone) through one or more conduits.
- the conduits may be single lumen or double lumen conduits. For a reversible pump, inflation and deflation can be achieved through a single lumen.
- the pressure in the bladders may be measured, for example, by sensors provided at the respective valves 44 or may be measured by sensors 50 a , 50 b , 50 c , 50 d located in the respective bladders 16 a - 16 d , or in inlets 52 a , 52 b , 52 c , and 52 d , or in the conduits directing fluid flow to and from the respective bladders.
- Control system 12 may be in electrical communication or wireless communication with the respective sensors (e.g. via the control system interface) to receive or read the sensor signals (or sensor states) to determine the pressure of each respective bladder and use those readings to perform the diagnostic test described above.
- diagnostic system 10 may be incorporated into the pneumatic system, including into a mattress.
- diagnostic system 10 may be incorporated into the pneumatic system, including into a mattress.
- U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,542,136; 5,325,551; and 7,406,736 and U.S. pending applications U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/548,591 (STR03A-P376A) and Ser. No. 13/836,813 (STR03A P404A), which are commonly owned by Stryker Corporation of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and are incorporated by referenced in their entireties herein, a mattress control system may be incorporated into the mattress and contained, for example, within the foot end of the mattress.
- control system 12 may use the pump of the pneumatic system to run the diagnostic test.
- control system 12 may use the valving of the pneumatic system to run the diagnostic test.
- diagnostic system 10 may be formed as part of or retrofit into a mattress control system.
- the control system may either be located, for example, in the foot end of the mattress along with the mattress control components (such as described in the referenced patents and patent publications) or may be included as a separate mattress control system either located, for example, in a pump box, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,542,136; 5,325,551; and 7,406,736, or into the apparatus supporting the mattress, as noted above, such as a hospital bed.
- the numeral 60 designates a patient support apparatus in the form of a bed, such as a hospital bed.
- Diagnostic system 10 may be incorporated into the control system of the hospital bed.
- diagnostic system 10 may be incorporated into a control module 62 , such as a control module mounted in the footboard of the bed or in a pendant or in a bed control system 64 located beneath the mattress in the foot end of the deck of the bed.
- a control module 62 such as a control module mounted in the footboard of the bed or in a pendant or in a bed control system 64 located beneath the mattress in the foot end of the deck of the bed.
- a suitable control module or foot end bed control system reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 7,690,059 (STR03B-P-102A) and to U.S. Pat. No.
- the functions and/or information of display 40 may be incorporated into the displays of the bed or pendent, for example, the bed display may comprise a diagnostic screen with the status and/or information described herein in reference to the diagnostic test or tests described above.
- the diagnostic test result or results may be sent to a remote device for retrieval, storage, diagnostics, etc.
- the results may comprise other information, such as the bed identification, identification of the person running the diagnostic test (e.g., employee number), the date and time of the test, etc.
- the diagnostic test results and information may be forwarded to a printer and printed, and for example, in a report, and/or forwarded, as noted, to a remote device for storage.
- diagnostic system 10 may comprise one or more interfaces, including a transceiver for communication with a remote device, including as noted a printer.
- the transceiver may be used by the controller for forwarding selected information from control system 12 to other devices, such as a quality control system or a manufacturing facility, but also to a computer network of a healthcare facility or another recipient, such as service provider who handles the repairs of the pneumatic system, such as the hospital bed and/or mattress noted above.
- the computer network may comprise an Ethernet network or can take on other forms.
- the control system interface may communicate with one or more electronic devices that are positioned on, or in the vicinity of, the pneumatic system.
- the interface may be configured to communicate with the mattress controller to thereby control, for example, the mattress pump (as noted above) and/or to receive signals from sensors already present in the mattress to thereby perform the diagnostic tests.
- Another suitable mattress is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 61/696,819 and 61/697,010, entitled INFLATABLE MATTRESS AND CONTROL METHODS and PATIENT SUPPORT, respectively, both of which were filed on Sep. 5, 2012, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
- Such mattresses comprise a plurality of inflatable bladders whose inflation pressure is controllable by one or more controllers contained with the mattress.
- the mattress may further comprise a plurality of sensors used for detecting information about the status of the mattress, such as, but not limited to, one or more depth sensors, fluid pressure sensors, temperature sensors, patient interface pressure sensors, and/or humidity sensors.
- the pressure sensors may be used by diagnostic system 10 to run the diagnostic tests described above.
- the interface is a Controller Area Network connection that communicates with the mattress, while in other embodiments, the interface takes on other forms.
- the interface may be a wireless connection, such as that disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/296,656 filed Nov. 15, 2011 by applicants Guy Lemire et al. and entitled PATIENT SUPPORT WITH WIRELESS DATA AND/OR ENERGY TRANSFER, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
- control system 12 may comprise a near field communications transceiver that communicates in any of the manners, and with any of the devices, disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/802,992, filed Mar. 14, 2013 by applicants Michael Hayes et al, and entitled COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS FOR PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUSES, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, as well as the sensors and pneumatic system components, such as the pump and valves, which would allow the control system 12 to use one or more of the components of the pneumatic system to run the testing.
- Such a near field communications transceiver may be also used for establishing an association between the diagnostic system and the pneumatic system, and optionally between the person testing the mattress, for example, a person wearing a near field ID tags. For example, an association can be established between the person running the test via a near field ID tag so that the patient support apparatus can record when and who did the testing.
- the software 14 may be located remotely, for example, on a network service server.
- the controller of control system 12 may be configured to create a software environment in which one or more thin client applications are able to operate. Such thin client applications communicate with one or more network services, which are available on one or more remote networks, such as a manufacturing facility or service provider network and/or the Internet. The controller is therefore able to support one or more thin client applications where a substantial portion of the computational workload carried out by software application is done remotely via the one or more network services.
- the term “thin client” as used herein shall be given its ordinary and accustomed meaning in the field of computer science and software. In general, a thin client refers to a computer or computer program which depends substantially on another computer or, in this case, one or more network services, to fulfill its programmed computational functions.
- the controller can be configured to support both fat and thin client applications, as well as applications that are purely local.
- the diagnostic system for detecting leaks may be combined with other applications, including any one or more of the following: patient assessment applications (e.g. assessing a patient's risk of falls, assessing a patient's risk of bed sores, etc.); sensor monitoring and/or data collection applications (e.g. gathering load cells outputs—such as patient position, center of gravity, weight, weight distribution, patient movement, etc.—gathering pressure mat outputs, gathering vital sign readings, gathering data from medical devices associated with the support apparatus and/or the patient assigned to the support apparatus); maintenance monitoring/scheduling applications (e.g.
- billing applications e.g. patient usage of the support apparatus features, medical device usage, patient presence on the support apparatus
- patient care protocol management applications e.g. defining, implementing, and/or monitoring of patient care protocols, such as protocols for preventing patient falls, protocols for preventing bed sores, protocols for turning patients, protocols for preventing ventilator-associated-pneumonia (VAP), protocols for containing or reducing infections, etc.).
- diagnostic system 10 may include display 40 .
- software 14 may comprise an assessment display function that is performed by the controller, which carries out the display of any and all information associated with the diagnostic test.
- the display may show the status of the test for each of the pneumatic components and the electrical components in a table form 70 .
- the status may comprise a pass or fail indication for each bladder. Additional information, such as the pressure values for each bladder may also be included, as well as the current values for the electrical components of the pneumatic system.
- the display function may control the display of any icons, menus, graphics, or other user interface items on display 40 that are used in the software application, for example, to initiate the testing protocol, to select between different windows, such as previous test information, such as in the form of tables.
- the controller may be in communication with a bar code reader so that the scanning of a bar code on the pneumatic system may be used to start the testing protocol or at least to upload the information about the pneumatic system being tested to the software.
- Software 14 may also be configured, in some embodiments, gather and store the testing data for archival purposes or for use in comparison with a database containing actual failures or component breakdowns.
- the data gathered from the application may be compared to the database of component failures to generate a maintenance schedule or to adjust an existing maintenance schedule based on the results of the comparison.
- mean times between failures of components in actual field use can be calculated, and this information can be used to set schedules and/or thresholds for preventive replacements of components prior to their breaking down so as to minimize down time.
- diagnostic system 10 When diagnostic system 10 is incorporated into a bed or mattress, diagnostic system 10 may be configured to run the test or tests automatically, for example, when the mattress is occupied or not. For example, the system may be configured to run the diagnostic testing only when the bed is empty and, therefore, may receive mattress occupancy signals as an input to the software to control the operation of the testing. Alternately, the software may run when the mattress is occupied, in which case the software may use the patient weight, and motion, as input to the system and adjust the pressure readings accordingly. In addition, diagnostic system 10 may be initiated remotely using the communication systems noted above.
- diagnostic system 10 is configured to detect the pressure change in one or more components of a pneumatic system, and, moreover, detect the pressure change over a period of time to determine the rate of decay in the pressure in the component(s). Further, the system may determine how long the pneumatic system takes to reach a defined pressure, such as the inflation or deflation pressures noted above.
- the system may have multiple base line decay rate values stored in memory to compare the rate of decay and the time periods.
- diagnostic system 10 may be used to detect small and large leaks in a pneumatic system. Based on the various tests run by system 10 , system 10 may also be used to predict the expected life of the tested components, for example, based on projections of the values obtained by the testing and/or based on comparisons to values stored in the memory of the control system.
Abstract
Description
Claims (14)
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US16/389,165 US11892376B2 (en) | 2015-06-30 | 2019-04-19 | System for pressure monitoring and processing leakage determination of a bladder |
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US201562186765P | 2015-06-30 | 2015-06-30 | |
US15/196,100 US10267706B2 (en) | 2015-06-30 | 2016-06-29 | Pneumatic diagnostic method and system for detecting leakage in a pneumatic system |
US16/389,165 US11892376B2 (en) | 2015-06-30 | 2019-04-19 | System for pressure monitoring and processing leakage determination of a bladder |
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US15/196,100 Continuation US10267706B2 (en) | 2015-06-30 | 2016-06-29 | Pneumatic diagnostic method and system for detecting leakage in a pneumatic system |
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EP3775823B1 (en) | 2018-04-11 | 2023-05-31 | Carrier Corporation | Pressure controlled cargo container for controlled atmosphere applications |
US20230000262A1 (en) * | 2020-03-23 | 2023-01-05 | Shenzhen Onethird Sleep Technology Co., Ltd | Air bag self-checking system and method |
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US10267706B2 (en) | 2019-04-23 |
US20170003191A1 (en) | 2017-01-05 |
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